MV Coral
MV Coral was the final name of a 1971-built cruise ship that operated under several owners and names before being scrapped in 2014.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
MV Coral was the final commercial name of a cruise ship originally launched as Cunard Adventurer in 1971. Built in Rotterdam for Cunard Line, the vessel represented Cunard's attempt to participate more fully in the modern cruise market that was emerging in the 1970s. It was designed as a one-class ship for approximately 832 passengers and carried a crew of about 412. Its exterior was designed by British designer James Gardner, who also contributed to the exterior design of the Queen Elizabeth 2. The ship had a reported cruising speed of approximately 22 knots. The vessel was initially conceived as one of a planned series of eight ships for Overseas National Airways. Financial difficulties reduced that order to two ships, and Cunard, which had an ownership connection with the airline, assumed the construction contracts. The resulting pair consisted of Cunard Adventurer and her sister ship, Cunard Ambassador. Cunard Adventurer was launched on 2 February 1971 and entered service in November of that year, preceding her sister's entry in 1972. Her first operating pattern combined transatlantic positioning with fly-cruise itineraries. The maiden voyage ran from Southampton to San Juan, Puerto Rico, after which the ship operated weekly cruises in the Caribbean and South America. At other times she sailed from Norfolk, Virginia, on Bermuda itineraries. During her later Cunard period she also operated Alaska cruises. Her Cunard service was generally uneventful, although she collided with Costa Lines' Carla C in San Juan in February 1975, sustaining damage to her bow. Cunard ultimately judged the two ships too small for its long-term fleet strategy and sold them in 1977, replacing them with the larger Cunard Princess and Cunard Countess. The former Cunard Adventurer then entered Norwegian Cruise Line service as Sunward II. During the refit associated with the transfer, her Queen Elizabeth 2-style funnel was removed and replaced with a funnel reflecting Norwegian Cruise Line's visual identity; other exterior features were also modified. The ship changed hands and identities repeatedly over the following decades. In 1991 it was sold to Epirotiki Lines and operated in the Greek Islands. In 1995 it became part of Royal Olympic Cruise Lines, a cruise company established by Epirotiki with another cruise operator. A proposed 1998 sale to Premier Cruises did not proceed, despite promotional material having been produced for a possible Premier operation. In April 2005 the vessel was sold at auction to Louis Cruises and was renamed Coral. Under that name it sailed in the Mediterranean and around the Greek Islands until 2011. Louis Cruises announced in May 2013 that Coral was intended to be renamed Louis Rhea for the 2014 season, reflecting the company's Greek-oriented identity. Those plans were later cancelled after the ship was reported sold for scrapping. The vessel arrived at Alang, India, on 30 January 2014, where it was broken up. MV Coral therefore describes the ship's final operating identity rather than an ongoing cruise brand or active company.
History
The ship that later became MV Coral originated in a proposed construction program for Overseas National Airways. The airline initially intended to order eight sister ships, but financial problems reduced the program to two vessels. Cunard, which had an ownership relationship with the airline, took over the orders and completed the ships as Cunard Adventurer and Cunard Ambassador. Built by Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij N.V. in Rotterdam, Cunard Adventurer was designed for the developing cruise market of the early 1970s. British designer James Gardner created the exterior, including design elements associated with the ship's original appearance. The vessel was configured for about 832 passengers in a single class, supported by a crew of approximately 412, and had a cruising speed of around 22 knots. It was launched on 2 February 1971 and entered service in November 1971; Cunard Ambassador followed in 1972. The ship's maiden voyage connected Southampton with San Juan, Puerto Rico. Its initial deployment focused on weekly fly-cruise programs in the Caribbean and South America, while seasonal operations also included cruises from Norfolk, Virginia, to Bermuda. Later in the Cunard period, the ship operated in Alaska. Its service was mostly free of major reported incidents, although it collided with Costa Lines' Carla C in San Juan in February 1975, damaging its bow. Cunard concluded that the two ships were too small for the company's intended fleet direction. Both were sold in 1977, and Cunard replaced them with the larger Cunard Princess and Cunard Countess. The former Cunard Adventurer was transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line and renamed Sunward II. A refit changed its external appearance: the original Queen Elizabeth 2-influenced funnel was replaced by an NCL-style funnel, and other Gardner-designed exterior features were altered. In 1991 the ship moved to Epirotiki Lines and operated around the Greek Islands. It became associated with Royal Olympic Cruise Lines in 1995 after Epirotiki helped establish that company with another cruise operator. A possible sale to Premier Cruises in 1998 did not complete, although Premier-related advertising had already depicted the ship. In April 2005 the vessel was sold at auction to Louis Cruises and adopted the name Coral. It continued Mediterranean and Greek Islands service under that name until 2011. Louis Cruises announced in May 2013 that the ship was expected to become Louis Rhea for the 2014 season. The proposed renaming was later abandoned when the ship was reported sold to a scrapping firm. After moving through the disposal process, the vessel arrived at Alang, India, on 30 January 2014. It was subsequently dismantled, making Coral the ship's final operating name.
- 2014
Arrival at Alang
[1]The ship arrived at Alang on 30 January for scrapping.
- 2005
Renamed Coral
[1]Louis Cruises acquired the vessel at auction in April and operated it as Coral.
- 1995
Association with Royal Olympic Cruise Lines
[1]The vessel joined the newly created Royal Olympic Cruise Lines operation.
- 1991
Sale to Epirotiki Lines
[1]The ship changed ownership and began Greek Islands operations.
- 1977
Transfer to Norwegian Cruise Line
[1]Cunard sold the vessel, which was renamed Sunward II and refitted with Norwegian Cruise Line exterior styling.
- 1975
San Juan collision
[1]The ship collided with Carla C in San Juan and suffered bow damage.
- 1971
Launch of Cunard Adventurer
[1]The ship was launched at Rotterdamsche Droogdok Maatschappij in Rotterdam on 2 February.
- 1971
Entry into Cunard service
[1]Cunard Adventurer entered service in November, operating cruise itineraries in the Caribbean and South America.
Products and positioning
A compact, multi-purpose international cruise ship whose commercial identity changed with successive operators, culminating in Mediterranean and Greek Islands service as Coral.
Cruise ship · 1971
Cunard Adventurer
The ship's original commercial identity under Cunard. It was configured as a one-class passenger vessel for approximately 832 guests, with about 412 crew members, and was deployed on Caribbean, South American, Bermuda, and later Alaska cruises.
Cruise ship · 1977
Sunward II
The vessel's Norwegian Cruise Line identity after its 1977 sale by Cunard. A refit replaced the original funnel with an NCL-style funnel and modified aspects of the ship's exterior design.
Cruise ship · 2005
Coral
The ship's final operating identity, used by Louis Cruises for Mediterranean and Greek Islands cruises from 2005 until the vessel ceased service and was sent for demolition.
Brand decisions
2013
Proposed renaming to Louis RheaStrategyBackground
Louis Cruises planned to align the ship's name with a Hellenic-themed naming approach for the 2014 season.
Action taken
The company announced that Coral would be renamed Louis Rhea, but later cancelled the plan.
Aftermath
The ship was reported sold for scrapping instead of entering the planned 2014 operation.
1977
Cunard replaces the small ships with larger vesselsStrategyBackground
Cunard determined that Cunard Adventurer and its sister ship were too small for the company's intended cruise-fleet strategy.
Action taken
The company sold both ships and replaced them with the larger Cunard Princess and Cunard Countess.
Aftermath
Cunard Adventurer transferred to Norwegian Cruise Line and became Sunward II.
1977
Transfer to Norwegian Cruise LineM&ABackground
Following Cunard's fleet decision, the ship was sold for continued commercial cruise use.
Action taken
Norwegian Cruise Line acquired the vessel, renamed it Sunward II, and refitted its exterior styling.
Aftermath
The vessel continued operating under a new cruise-line identity.
Sources1 sources
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